The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Review

"Folks don't expect Witcher’s to save them from themselves." – A review of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. 

If you were to ask your average gamer which open world RPG is the best, I would put money on them choosing The Witcher 3. Developed by CD Projekt Red and released in 2015, The Witcher 3 gained critical acclaim for it’s incredible storytelling, expansive world and incredibly immersive gameplay mechanics. It’s been ten years since then, and the game is still beloved by fans of open world RPGs. The Witcher universe is expansive, as aside from the games there are also books and of course the Netflix series. What keeps fans returning, and does The Witcher 3 live up to the hype?

I was a bit of a latecomer to the game and only started playing it after I’d started watching the Netflix series, but I immediately understood why people love it so much. The main story centres around Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, who is searching for his adopted daughter Ciri whilst also contending with the Wild Hunt, who appear as creepy spectral riders and who are regarded as a bad omen. Aside from the main quest though, The Witcher 3 has some incredible side quests full of compelling and interesting characters and story lines, excellent writing and several morally ambiguous choices to be made, which all help to create a wonderfully nuanced narrative.

One of my favourite things about this masterpiece of a game is the incredibly vast open world. It’s big, but not at all empty. It’s a world which feels truly alive; windswept islands, dense forests and vibrant cities are all there to be discovered and explored. Speaking of exploration, this is a game which really rewards that, as new locations are often brimming with lore, hidden treasure and of course challenging monsters for you to defeat. On top of all of this, the day-night cycle and dynamic weather brings it all together, making the world fun to explore and completely immersive.

The combat is brilliant too. Part skill, part strategy, Geralt is able to wield swords, use magic, brew potions and set traps, allowing the player to experiment and create the perfect approach for each enemy they come across. The variety of contracts and side quests offers an incredible amount of combat opportunities and also helps to ensure the game never feels repetitive.

Visually the game is stunning too. The visuals were groundbreaking when the game first launched, but with enhanced editions and graphical updates, it still remains gorgeous all these years later. The landscapes are absolutely beautiful, characters are incredibly detailed, and the animation is spot on. When it comes to sound, I love the voice acting, and the score compliments the game perfectly.

I can’t think of anything negative to say about this game. Sure, there are occasional bugs, and yes Roach the horse can be a bit of a pain to ride. The incredible story, world building and unforgettable characters make up for all of this ten times over. Immersive, brilliantly written and properly addictive, The Witcher 3 is a real must play for anyone who enjoys incredible fantasy worlds and brilliant storytelling. If you haven’t played it yet, then go toss a coin for your Witcher and enjoy this absolutely unforgettable adventure.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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